Sunday, January 4, 2015

2-Week Meal Plan {+ FREE printables!}

If I’ve been asked once I’ve been asked a million times. Do you meal plan? How do you grocery shop? Is there a plan I can follow on your blog?Well, yes. I do meal plan, but I’m not strict about it. Too many rules makes me just want to break them, you know? So I keep it simple and flexible. That is the key folks. Flexible. If you have tacos planned for Tuesday and then you suddenly have a sick child and those tacos get pushed back to Wednesday, please do not fret about it. It’s only dinner, not a mid-term exam. Your family will live. And trust me they will not go hungry.In our family we do two big grocery runs a month, usually with a quick run weekly for any fresh items we may need or had forgot {milk, fruit, eggs, etc.}. I know this may not work for your family. Maybe you get paid weekly and want to do smaller trips. That is fine! Do whatever works for you. Since we shop every two weeks I have put together a two week meal plan for you.Yes, I said for YOU!I’ve done ALL the work. The recipes are compiled, the shopping list is detailed and it looks beautiful. {Okay, it may not be beautiful in your eyes but it does in mine. Organization to me = beauty.}Below you will find 14 days of meals laid out for you, along with some breakfast and snacks ideas as well {because we eat more than just dinner!}. As for lunch? Well, lunch in our house is typically leftovers from the night before. If not leftovers, then something extremely simple {think PB and J sandwich or a snack plate of cheese/crackers/fruit}. And if you don’t like leftovers, well…start liking them. Don’t waste food!Use this meal plan people. Don’t just print it out in the “hopes” of getting organized. Use it! I swear, if you take the time to print it off, sit down, make your grocery list and eventually go shopping, at the end of the two weeks you will thank me.And yes, when you look at the shopping list it may seem daunting. It may look like a lot. But remember THIS – the meals I have planned are homemade. Not that boxed crap. You will be proud to serve this to your family and they will thank you in return. And more than likely you may already have some of this in your fridge and freezer. Take the “pantry” list for example. This list is what “most” will already have stashed away in their cupboards {think…flour, cinnamon, mustard, sugar, etc.} And if you don’t have these staple items {i.e. starting from scratch} then, I’m sorry, you’ll just have more shopping to do. But remember, once you buy some of these items, they will last you a long while. It takes a LONG time to get through a bottle of soy sauce!Another tidbit: If there is a meal below that you know will ABSOLUTELY not go over well in your family {say due to an allergy, or an extreme dislike}, then nix it. You won’t hurt my feelings at all. Simply replace it with one of your family favorites.Here we go. Each meal has a direct link to the recipe. Read carefully and certainly email me with any questions. I’m here to help!

Love it Ally! I typically make weekly menu/grocery lists but am thinking moving to a two-week schedule would be a good idea with winter weather. Thanks for all your great work on your menu. I think I'll have to incorporate several of these recipes.

Looking at your meal plan makes be realize I NEEEEEEED to get more fruits and vegetables in our own meal plan. PS - I made your steel cut oatmeal for breakfast this morning, I just reduced the portions to fit two people. Love it!

Ally, this is awesome and I agree meal planning saves $$ and time. My hubs likes to go daily...lol. Not great for meal planning so I'll have to try this. Great ideas. Thank you again for linking up to our Something To Talk About Link Party!! You're the best and I'll share these this week on Fb. have a great Monday, Lisa at Concord Cottage

Love the information! I needed to get excited about it again, and with spring andyour post, I think I am! Thanks for sharing it over at country fair Blog party! I can't wait to see what you are up to for April!Jan